Queen's Plate

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Queen's Plate
Restricted race
LexieLouQueensPlate2014.jpg
Lexie Lou winning the 2014 Queen's Plate
LocationWoodbine Racetrack
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Inaugurated1860 (161 years ago) (1860)
Race typeFlat / Thoroughbred
Websitewoodbine.com/queensplate
Race information
Distance1+14 miles (10 furlongs)
SurfaceTapeta
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification3-year-old Canadian-bred
WeightColt/Gelding: 126 lbs (57.2 kg)
Filly: 121 lbs. (54.9 kg)
PurseCDN$1 million

The Queen's Plate (known as the King's Plate from 1901 to 1952, when the reigning monarch was male) is Canada's oldest Thoroughbred horse race, having been founded in 1860.[1] It is also the oldest continuously run race in North America.[2] It is run at a distance of 1+14 miles for a maximum of 17 three-year-old Thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer, normally in June or July, at Woodbine Racetrack in Etobicoke, Ontario. It is the first race in the Canadian Triple Crown.

The 2020 event, originally scheduled for June 27, was postponed to September 12 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[3][4] The 2021 event was run on August 22, 2021.[5]

History[]

In 1859, when Canada West was still a colony of Britain, the then-president of the Toronto Turf Club, Sir Casimir Gzowski, petitioned Queen Victoria to grant a plate for a new race in the territory. Upon royal assent, the first Queen's Plate was run on June 27, 1860, at the Carleton racetrack in Toronto, with the prize of "a plate to the value of 50 guineas". Despite the name of the race, the winning owner is presented with a gold cup rather than a plate.[6]

Originally, the race was restricted to three-year-olds bred in Canada that had never won a stakes race. The race was originally run in heats, with a horse having to win two heats to be declared the winner. Over the years, the race conditions have evolved. Heat racing was discontinued in 1879, and the race was opened to stakes winners around the same time (some early records are incomplete). For many years, the race was open to older horses and in the early 1900s was even open to two-year-olds. The race is currently restricted to three-year-olds foaled in Canada. The owner must pay a nomination fee ($500 in 2018) in February, a second subscription fee ($1,500 in 2018) in May and a final entry fee ($10,000) in late June prior to the race.[7][8][9]

Queen's Plate, Woodbine Race track [ca. 1950]

The first four renewals were run at Carleton racetrack. After that, the Queen's Plate became a "movable feast", with politicians from all over modern-day Ontario vying to host the race in their constituency. Fifteen different race tracks hosted the race over the next two decades, with distances varying from one to two miles.[7] In 1883, the race moved to Old Woodbine, located in eastern Toronto along Lake Ontario. The race continued to be held at Old Woodbine until that track was replaced by "New" Woodbine in northern Toronto in 1956. The race has been run at Woodbine ever since. In 2006, Woodbine changed the track surface for the main track from natural dirt to a synthetic surface known as Polytrack. In 2016, the surface was changed to Tapeta. Because of the change in racing surfaces, Woodbine maintains several sets of track and stakes records. The fastest time for the race since 1957, the year in which the race was set at its current length of 1+14 miles, is 2:01 4/5, set by Kinghaven Farms Izvestia in 1990 over a dirt surface. However, because the race is now run over an artificial dirt surface, the modern stakes record is 2:01.98, set by Mighty Heart in 2020.[8][10][4]

In 1902, the year after Victoria's death, the race became the King's Plate, after her successor, Edward VII. It became the Queen's Plate again when Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952.[11]

Horses owned by Windfields Farm have won the Queen's Plate eleven times, but the most successful was the stable owned by Joseph E. Seagram, a prominent distiller from Waterloo, Ontario. Seagram's stable won the Queen's Plate on twenty occasions between 1891 and 1935 including eight times in a row between 1891 and 1898, and ten times in eleven years from 1891 to 1901.

In 1964, Northern Dancer, the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby, also won the Queen's Plate in his final race.[12]

In 2006, Josie Carroll became the first woman trainer to win the Queen's Plate. The following year, Emma-Jayne Wilson became the first female jockey to win the race.

The 2004-2013 Plate winners had little success in their subsequent racing careers. This compares unfavourably to the 1990s when a number of Plate winners had considerable success thereafter, including With Approval, Izvestia, Dance Smartly and Awesome Again. The more recent Queen's Plate winners have also been successful, including Lexie Lou (who became a multiple graded stakes winner in Canada and the US after winning the Plate in 2014) and Shaman Ghost (a Grade I winner in America after winning the Plate in 2015).[13]

Nick Eaves, former President and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Group, announced during the 2012 Queen's Plate post position draw that Woodbine Racetrack may be forced to close in April 2013 due to the cancellation of Slots at Racetrack program partnerships between Ontario's racetracks and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Eaves said that if Woodbine is not open, "there won't be a Queen's Plate."[14] A new funding agreement was put in place in March 2013, which ensured the continuation of horse racing at Woodbine.

37 fillies have won the Queen's Plate, beginning with Brunette in 1864. The 2017 running was won by filly Holy Helena, while the 2018 running was won by Wonder Gadot.[15] Two chestnut fillies both by the name of Wild Rose have won the Queen's Plate, in 1867 and 1886. They were the daughter and great-great-grand-daughter respectively of Yellow Rose, who also produced the first Queen's Plate winner Don Juan.[7]

The race has been held at a variety of distances:[8]

  • 1860–1867: 1-mile (1.6 km) heats
  • 1868–1870: 2 miles (3.2 km)
  • 1871: 1+34 miles (2.82 km)
  • 1872–1886: 1+12 miles (2.4 km)
  • 1887–1923: 1+14 miles (2.01 km)
  • 1924–1956: 1+18 miles (1.811 km)
  • 1957-: 1+14 miles (2.01 km)

Royal patronage[]

Queen Elizabeth II (at far left) arriving at the 2010 Queen's Plate

As Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II is patron of the event, and various other members of the Canadian Royal Family have been in attendance through the years, beginning with the Duke of Argyll and his wife, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, in 1881, when the Duke was serving as Governor General of Canada and the couple was touring Ontario.[16] Elizabeth II's most recent visit to the race was in early July 2010.[17]

Records[]

Stakes Record

Winningest Jockeys:

Winningest Trainers:

Winningest Owners:

Winners[]

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2021 Irad Ortiz Jr. WellSpring Stables (Robert Vukovich) 2:02.85
2020 Mighty Heart Josie Carroll Lawrence P. Cordes 2:01.98
2019 Flavien Prat 2:02.98
2018 Wonder Gadot John R. Velazquez Mark E. Casse Gary Barber 2:02.26
2017 Holy Helena † Luis Contreras James A. Jerkens Stronach Stables 2:02.87
2016 Sir Dudley Digges Julien Leparoux Michael J. Maker Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey 2:04.09
2015 Shaman Ghost Stronach Stables 2:03.45
2014 Lexie Lou Patrick Husbands Mark E. Casse Gary Barber 2:03:94
2013 Midnight Aria Jesse M. Campbell 2:04.72
2012 Strait of Dover 2:01.99
2011 Inglorious † Luis Contreras Josie Carroll 2:02.63
2010 Big Red Mike Eurico Rosa da Silva 2:04.89
2009 Eye of the Leopard Eurico Rosa da Silva Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 2:03.84
2008 Not Bourbon Jono Jones Roger Attfield Charles E. Fipke 2:03.59
2007 Mike Fox Emma-Jayne Wilson 2:05.45
2006 Edenwold Emile Ramsammy Josie Carroll Jim & Alice Sapara 2:05.30
2005 Wild Desert Pat Valenzuela Robert J. Frankel Daniel Borislow & Partners 2:07.37
2004 Niigon Robert Landry Chiefswood Stable 2:04.72
2003 Wando Patrick Husbands 2:02.48
2002 T J's Lucky Moon 2:06.88
2001 Dancethruthedawn Gary Boulanger Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 2:03.78
2000 Scatter the Gold Todd Kabel Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 2:05.53
1999 Woodcarver Mickey Walls 2:03.13
1998 Archers Bay Kent Desormeaux Todd Pletcher Melnyk & 2:02.10
1997 Awesome Again Mike E. Smith David Hofmans Frank Stronach 2:04.20
1996 Victor Cooley Emile Ramsammy Mark Frostad Windways Farm 2:03.80
1995 Regal Discovery Todd Kabel Roger Attfield No. 1 Stable 2:03.80
1994 Basqueian Jack Lauzon Daniel J. Vella Frank Stronach 2:03.40
1993 Peteski Craig Perret Roger Attfield Earle I. Mack 2:04.20
1992 Alydeed Craig Perret Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms 2:04.60
1991 Dance Smartly Pat Day Jim Day Sam-Son Farm 2:03.40
1990 Izvestia Don Seymour Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms 2:01.80
1989 With Approval Don Seymour Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms 2:03.00
1988 Regal Intention Jack Lauzon Jim Day Sam-Son Farm 2:06.20
1987 Market Control Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms 2:03.60
1986 Golden Choice Dick Sanderson 2:07.20
1985 La Lorgnette David Clark Macdonald Benson Windfields Farm 2:04.60
1984 Key to the Moon Robin Platts Gil Rowntree 2:03.80
1983 Bompago Larry Attard Carl Cardella & Partners 2:04.20
1982 Son of Briartic 2:04.60
1981 Fiddle Dancer Boy David Clark 2:04.80
1980 Driving Home 2:04.20
1979 Steady Growth Brian Swatuk John J. Tammaro Jr. Kinghaven Farms 2:06.60
1978 Regal Embrace Sandy Hawley Macdonald Benson Windfields Farm 2:02.00
1977 Sound Reason Robin Platts Gil Rowntree 2:06.60
1976 Norcliffe Jeffrey Fell Roger Attfield 2:05.00
1975 L'Enjoleur Sandy Hawley Yonnie Starr J. Louis Lévesque 2:02.60
1974 Amber Herod Robin Platts Gil Rowntree 2:09.20
1973 Royal Chocolate Gil Rowntree 2:08.20
1972 Victoria Song Robin Platts Green Hills Farm 2:03.20
1971 Kennedy Road Sandy Hawley 2:03.00
1970 Almoner Sandy Hawley 2:04.80
1969 Jumpin Joseph Avelino Gomez 2:04.20
1968 Merger Wayne Harris Golden West Farms 2:05.20
1967 Jammed Lovely Yonnie Starr Conn Smythe 2:03.00
1966 Titled Hero Avelino Gomez 2:03.60
1965 Whistling Sea Olivier Ranches 2:03.80
1964 Northern Dancer Bill Hartack Horatio Luro Windfields Farm 2:02.20
1963 Canebora Manuel Ycaza Gordon J. McCann Windfields Farm 2:04.00
1962 Flaming Page Horatio Luro Windfields Farm 2:04.60
1961 Blue Light Hugo Dittfach 2:05.00
1960 Victoria Park Avelino Gomez Horatio Luro Windfields Farm 2:02.00
1959 New Providence Bobby Ussery Gordon J. McCann Windfields Farm 2:04.80
1958 Caledon Beau Yonnie Starr Conn Smythe 2:04.20
1957 Lyford Cay Avelino Gomez Gordon J. McCann E. P. Taylor 2:02.60
1956 Canadian Champ 1:55.00
1955 Ace Marine Yonnie Starr 1:52.40
1954 Collisteo Chris Rogers Bur-Fit Stable 1:52.00
1953 Canadiana Eddie Arcaro Gordon J. McCann E. P. Taylor 1:52.20
1952 Epigram Three V's Stable 1:58.60
1951 Major Factor Gordon J. McCann E. P. Taylor 1:53.00
1950 McGill Chris Rogers 1:52.40
1949 Epic Chris Rogers E. P. Taylor 1:52.20
1948 Last Mark 1:52.00
1947 Moldy Parkwood Stable 1:54.20
1946 Kingarvie Parkwood Stable 1:55.60
1945 Uttermost Robert B. Watson Harry C. Hatch 1:53.80
1944 Acara Robert B. Watson Harry C. Hatch 1:54.80
1943 Paolita † 2:02.60
1942 Ten to Ace Charles W. Smith Harry Giddings Jr. Harry Giddings Jr. 1:57.80
1941 Budpath Robert B. Watson Harry C. Hatch 1:56.80
1940 Willie the Kid Gordon J. McCann 1:55.80
1939 Archworth C. George McCullagh 1:54.40
1938 Bunty Lawless 1:54.40
1937 Goldlure William H. Bringloe Harry C. Hatch 1:55.40
1936 Monsweep William H. Bringloe Harry C. Hatch 1:55.00
1935 Sally Fuller † Seagram Stables 1:55.40
1934 Horometer Frankie Mann Harry Giddings Jr. Col. Samuel McLaughlin 1:54.20
1933 King O'Connor William H. Bringloe Seagram Stables 1:56.40
1932 Queensway Frankie Mann Harry Giddings Jr. 1:55.20
1931 Froth Blower Frankie Mann Harry Giddings Jr. 1:59.20
1930 Aymond Ryland H. New 1:57.20
1929 Shorelint J. D. Mooney Thorncliffe Stable 1:57.60
1928 Young Kitty † William H. Bringloe Seagram Stables 1:57.00
1927 Troutlet † Ryland H. New 1:55.80
1926 Haplite Henry Erickson William H. Bringloe Seagram Stables 1:59.60
1925 Fairbank † Chick Lang 1:56.40
1924 Maternal Pride 1:57.60
1923 Flowerful William H. Bringloe Seagram Stables 2:11.00
1922 South Shore † Thorncliffe Stable 2:12.00
1921 Herendesy James H. Butwell 2:10.00
1920 St. Paul Harry Giddings Jr. 2:09.00
1919 Ladder of Light † 2:09.40
1918 Springside 2:08.80
1917 Belle Mahone Frank Robinson Barry Littlefield Joseph E. Seagram 2:08.80
1916 Mandarin Arthur Pickens Barry Littlefield Joseph E. Seagram 2:12.00
1915 Tartarean Harry Watts Charles Millar 2:09.20
1914 Beehive Harry Giddings Jr. 2:10.60
1913 Hearts of Oak Harry Giddings Jr. 2:09.20
1912 Heresy 2:11.00
1911 St. Bass Eddie Dugan Harry Giddings Jr. 2:08.80
1910 Parmer 2:12.40
1909 Shimonese † 2:10.40
1908 Seismic Barry Littlefield Joseph E. Seagram 2:11.00
1907 Kelvin 2:12.60
1906 Slaughter Barry Littlefield Joseph E. Seagram 2:11.60
1905 Inferno Barry Littlefield Joseph E. Seagram 2:12.00
1904 Sapper 2:12.00
1903 Thessalon 2:15.50
1902 Lyddite † 2:15.00
1901 John Ruskin Joseph E. Seagram 2:18.75
1900 Dalmoor Joseph E. Seagram 2:14.00
1899 Butter Scotch † 2:15.50
1898 Bon Ino † Charles Boyle Joseph E. Seagram 2:15.50
1897 Ferdinand Charles Boyle Joseph E. Seagram 2:13.00
1896 Millbrook Joseph E. Seagram 2:19.00
1895 Bonniefield Joseph E. Seagram 2:17.50
1894 Joe Miller Joseph E. Seagram 2:28.50
1893 Martello Harry Blaylock Joseph E. Seagram 2:14.00
1892 O'Donohue Joseph E. Seagram 2:22.00
1891 Victorious Joseph E. Seagram 2:14.50
1890 Kitestring † 2:22.00
1889 Colonist J. D. Matheson 2:16.00
1888 Harry Cooper J. D. Matheson 2:18.50
1887 Bonnie Duke 2:19.00
1886 Wild Rose † 2:48.25
1885 Willie W. 2:58.00
1884 Williams 2:50.75
1883 Roddy Pringle Charles Boyle Charles Boyle 2:52.50
1882 Fanny Wiser † 2:51.00
1881 Vice Chancellor 2:53.00
1880 Bonnie Bird † 2:47.00
1879 Moss Rose † 2:54.50
1878 King George 2:49.50
1877 Amelia † 2:56.50
1876 Norah P. † 2:52.00
1875 Young Trumpeter Unknown 2:52.50
1874 The Swallow † 2:51.75
1873 Mignonette † Unknown 2:57.00
1872 Fearnaught 2:54.50
1871 Floss † Robert T. Davies Robert T. Davies 3:21.00
1870 John Bell 3:54.50
1869 Bay Jack 3:50.00
1868 Nettie † 3:55.00
1867 Wild Rose † 1:50.50
1866 Beacon 1:54.00
1865 Lady Norfolk † Unknown Ukn
1864 Brunette † Unknown 2:00.00
1863 Touchstone 1:59.00
1862 Palermo Charles Boyle 2:03.00
1861 Wild Irishman George Cameron[18] 2:00.00
1860 Don Juan 1:58.00

† indicates a filly

References[]

  1. ^ "Condensed History Of The Longest Established Race Of North America". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1912-05-17. Retrieved 2020-01-14.
  2. ^ "Thoroughbred Report - Frequently Asked Questions - Horse Racing History, etc". www.thoroughbredreport.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Queen's Plate Postponed Due to Coronavirus". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Mighty Heart Leads Throughout in Queen's Plate Romp". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  5. ^ Queen's Plate, Woodbine Entertainment Group.
  6. ^ "History of Queen's Plate". www.queensplate.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c Nevills, Joe. "How Wild Rose won the Queen's Plate in 1867 - and again 19 years later". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Thoroughbred Stakes Results" (PDF). woodbineentertainment.com. pp. 117–119. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Nomination Form" (PDF). woodbine.com. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  10. ^ Mauntah, Richard (8 April 2016). "Woodbine ready to showcase new Tapeta racing surface". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  11. ^ The Canadian Encyclopedia. Published 2012-08-20, last edited 2014-03-07.
  12. ^ "Northern Dancer a Very Unlikely Hero". horseracinghalloffame.com. Archived from the original on 26 October 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  13. ^ Shields, Emily. "Why the Queen's Plate is so much more than just Canada's most famous race". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  14. ^ Campbell, Alex (21 June 2012). "Eaves: Closure of Woodbine Possible in 2013". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  15. ^ "Queen's Plate Winners". www.tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  16. ^ "History > History of Queen's Plate". Woodbine Entertainment Group. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  17. ^ Morrison, Jennifer (4 July 2010). "Big Red Mike takes Queen's Plate | Toronto Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  18. ^ Toronto Star, February 7, 1935

Bibliography[]

  • The Plate. (1984) ISBN 0-88879-104-6

External links[]

Retrieved from ""